Barcode reading device, imaging method and computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

A barcode reading device including a scanner which irradiates a target with a light beam and scans a barcode provided on the target so as to read information from the barcode, a camera which captures images of the target, a display which displays the images captured by the camera, and a processor which performs processing operations including an imaging control processing operation for, when the scanner is irradiating the target with the light beam, controlling the camera to perform an imaging operation for acquiring an image for recording, at predetermined imaging timing, and an irradiation control processing operation for temporarily stopping the light beam irradiation by the scanner in synchronization with the imaging timing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-175465 filed Sep. 13,2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a barcode reading device, an imagingmethod and a computer-readable storage medium for use in managementtasks for articles, ledger documents, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in management tasks for the warehousing and delivery,inventory and the like of articles such as commodities, for example,handy terminals for reading barcodes provided to the articles by a laserscanner have been often used, and a handy terminal having a digitalcamera in its main body is known (for example, refer to Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 2004-345826). With thishandy terminal equipped with a digital, for example, images showing astate as to whether articles have been damaged at the time ofwarehousing and delivery, images showing ledger documents such asreceipts, sales slips, invoices with barcodes written thereon and thelike can be acquired as captured images for management.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a barcode readingdevice comprising: a scanner which irradiates a target with a light beamand thereby scans a barcode provided on the target so as to readinformation from the barcode; a camera which captures images of thetarget; a display which displays the images captured by the camera; anda processor which performs processing operations including: an imagingcontrol processing operation for, when the scanner is irradiating thetarget with the light beam, controlling the camera to perform an imagingoperation for acquiring an image for recording at predetermined imagingtiming, and an irradiation control processing operation for temporarilystopping the light beam irradiation by the scanner in synchronizationwith the imaging timing.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided an imagingmethod of photographing a target for a barcode reading device includinga scanner which irradiates the target with a light beam and therebyscans a barcode provided on the target so as to read information fromthe barcode, a camera which captures images of the target, a displaywhich displays the images captured by the camera, and a processor,comprising: an imaging control step of, when the scanner is irradiatingthe target with the light beam, controlling the camera to perform animaging operation for acquiring an image for recording at predeterminedimaging timing; and an irradiation control step of temporarily stoppingthe light beam irradiation by the scanner in synchronization with theimaging timing.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon aprogram that is executable by a computer of a barcode reading deviceincluding a scanner which irradiates a target with a light beam andthereby scans a barcode provided on the target so as to read informationfrom the barcode, a camera which captures images of the target, adisplay which displays the images captured by the camera, and aprocessor, the program being executable by the computer to performprocessing operations including: an imaging control processing operationfor, when the scanner is irradiating the target with the light beam,controlling the camera to perform an imaging operation for acquiring animage for recording at predetermined imaging timing, and an irradiationcontrol processing operation for temporarily stopping the light beamirradiation by the scanner in synchronization with the imaging timing.

The above and further objects and novel features of the presentinvention will more fully appear from the following detailed descriptionwhen the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of thelimits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a handy terminal according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the handy terminal;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear surface side of the handyterminal;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a relation between the light trail of laser lightand the imaging range of a camera at the time of barcode reading;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electrical structure of the handyterminal;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an exposure period in a rollingshutter method;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operations in a simultaneous read mode;

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of operations in the simultaneous read mode;and

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are diagrams showing a difference between a liveview image and a captured image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described.FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show a handy terminal according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

This handy terminal includes an imaging function of capturing an imageof a target such as various sales slips and articles provided with abarcode, and includes a device case 1, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.This device case 1 is constituted by an upper case 2 and a lower case 3.The upper case 2 is provided with a display 4 and an input section 5.The lower case 3 is provided with a reading device 6 and a battery cover7.

In the device case 1, a main body section 1 a in a rectangular shapeelongated in a front-and-back direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1)is formed on a tip side (upper side in FIG. 1) positioned on the display4 side of the upper case 2 and its corresponding reading device 6 sideof the lower case 3, a grip section 1 b in a rectangular shape elongatedin the front-and-back direction is formed on the frontward side (lowerside in FIG. 1) positioned on the input section 5 side of the upper case2 and its corresponding battery cover 7 side of the lower case 3. Also,in the device case 1, the width of the grip section 1 b is narrower thanthe width of the main body section 1 a, and the device case 1 is formedin a substantially Japanese battledore shape as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input section 5 includes various keys 5 a suchas numeric keys, arithmetic keys, cursor keys, an enter key, and a powersupply key, which are arrayed on the upper case 2 positioned on the gripsection 1 b side. On the upper side of the input section 5, a centertrigger key 5 b is provided. On both side surfaces of the device case 1,side trigger keys 5 c are provided.

The reading device 6 is constituted by a scanner and a camera providedinside a unit case 10 provided on the lower surface (upper surface inFIG. 3) of the lower case 3 corresponding to the rear surface side ofthe display 4. The unit case 10 is provided with a read window section11 corresponding to the scanner and an imaging window section 12corresponding to the camera.

The scanner of the reading device 6 is a general device which irradiatesa target with laser light via the read window section 11, reads abarcode by receiving reflected light of the laser light while moving itsirradiation position to a predetermined direction in a reciprocatingmanner, and acquires code data. The camera of the reading device 6captures an image of the target by an image sensor via the imagingwindow section 12, and the image of the target or the like captured bythe camera is displayed on the display 4.

Here, the handy terminal is structured such that an irradiationdirection S1 of laser light and an imaging direction S2 of the camera inthe reading device 6 are set to be in the same direction as shown inFIG. 2 and the light trail of the laser light reciprocating at the timeof barcode reading traverses an imaging range of the camera at apredetermined position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a relation between the light trail T of laserlight L and the imaging range 100 of the camera at the time of barcodereading. In the present embodiment, the imaging range 100 of the camerais in a longitudinally-elongated rectangular shape, the moving directionof the laser light L is a lateral direction, and its light trail Tcrosses the imaging range 100 at a position slightly lower than thecenter of the imaging range 100. Also, a crossing position N of thelight trail T, that is, the position in the imaging range 100 in thevertical direction is constant.

Also, the irradiation direction S1 of the laser light L and the imagingdirection S2 of the camera keep a gradient at a predetermined angle θwith respect to the lower surface of the device case 1, that is, thelower surface of the lower case 3. The handy terminal is structured suchthat a user (worker) can easily perform a barcode reading operation anda target imaging operation while viewing the display 4. Thepredetermined angle θ is in an angle range of 40 degrees to 80 degrees,and should preferably be at 60 degrees toward the tip side (upper sidein FIG. 2) of the lower case 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical structure of thehandy terminal. The handy terminal is constituted by a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 21, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22 connected to theCPU 21, a main storage section 23, a storage section 24, a key inputsection 25, a display section 26, a scanner section 27, a camera section28, a communication section 30, and a sound emission section 31.

The main storage section 23 is constituted by a non-volatile rewritablememory such as a flash memory incorporated in the handy terminal. Themain storage section 23 stores a control program, various settinginformation regarding operations of the handy terminal set by the user,and the like.

The CPU 21 reads the control program from the main storage section 23,develops the control program on the RAM 22, and controls operations ofthe handy terminal based on the developed control program. Here, the RAM22 is used as a work memory, and various data including image data arestored in the RAM 22 as required.

The key input section 25, which includes various keys 5 a (such asnumeric keys, arithmetic keys, cursor keys, enter key, and power supplykey), the center trigger key 5 b, and the side trigger keys 5 c, detectswhether these keys have been operated and supplies such operationinformation to the CPU 21. The display section 26 is constituted by thedisplay 4 and its drive circuit. This display 4 is, for example, an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) or ELD (Electro Luminescent Display).

The scanner section 27 is a laser scanner module or the likeaccommodated in the above-described reading device 6, and includes alaser diode (light source) which emits laser light L, a movable mirrorwhich reflects the laser light L and scans a barcode on the surface ofan article by rotating within predetermined angles, and a light-emittingelement which receives irregular reflected light from the surface of thearticle. The scanner section 27 includes a laser control circuit whichcontrols the light emission of the laser diode, a mirror drive circuitwhich drives the movable mirror, an analog signal processing circuitwhich processes an analog signal outputted from the light-receivingelement for A/D conversion, and a decode circuit which decodes aprocessed digital signal to acquire code data and supplies the code datato the CPU 21. Note that the number of times of scanning with laserlight is 100/second to several hundreds/second.

The camera section 28 is a digital camera module or the likeaccommodated in the above-described reading device 6, and includes animage sensor 29 which images a subject via an imaging lens containing afocus lens. The image sensor 29 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor.

Although not shown, the camera section 28 includes a drive circuit whichdrives the image sensor 29, an image processing circuit which processesan imaging signal read from the image sensor 29, performs various signalprocessing such as white balance and brightness adjustment, and suppliesthe result as image data to the CPU 21, and an AF drive circuit whichachieves an AF (Auto Focus) function by driving the imaging lens andperforming focus adjustment.

Also, charge storage and signal reading of each pixel in the imagesensor 29 are performed based on a timing signal from the drive circuitby following an instruction from the CPU 21, and the image sensor 29thereby operates as an electronic shutter. In the present embodiment,the electronic shutter in the image sensor 29 is based on a rollingshutter method in which exposure starts sequentially for each horizontalline (hereinafter referred to as “line”) in a pixel array and storedcharges are sequentially read for each line.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an exposure period and a chargetransfer period for each line in the rolling shutter method. In therolling shutter method, the exposure period has a different start timeand a different end time for each line. While exposure times are t0 tot2 on the head line in the uppermost part of the screen, exposure timesare t1 to t3 on the last line in the lowermost part of the screen. Also,a period t0 to t3 from when exposure of the head line is started untilwhen exposure of the last line is ended corresponds to exposure times atthe time of image capturing.

The storage section 24 is constituted by, for example, a memory cardattachable to and detachable from the handy terminal and a cardinterface capable of inputting and outputting data to the memory card.The storage section 24 stores code data acquired by the scanner section27 and image data generated by the CPU 21 by later-described processingbased on image data acquired by the camera section 28 in a manner thatthe code data and the image data are associated with each other,together with other information.

The communication section 30 communicates with an external informationdevice as required wirelessly or in a wired manner, and transmits codedata and image data for each article stored (saved) in the storagesection 24 and code data and image data newly acquired during anoperation and temporarily stored in the RAM 22 to the externalinformation device. The external information device is, for example, acomputer or a data management server for use in management tasks such asthose regarding article delivery or inventory.

The sound emission section 31 is constituted by a sound generationcircuit, an amplifier, a small-sized loudspeaker, and the like, andoutputs various alarm sounds as required, such as key operation soundsduring operations on various keys and the side trigger keys 5 c of theinput section 5 and a buzzer sound described further below.

The handy terminal structured as described above has, as an operationmode, a simultaneous read mode for reading a barcode and acquiring andstoring its code data and for capturing an image of an arbitrary targethaving a barcode written or printed thereon and acquiring and storingits image data.

In the handy terminal, when the simultaneous read mode is set, images ofa subject are captured by the camera section 28 at a predetermined framerate, and the captured images are temporarily stored in the RAM 22 andsequentially displayed on the display 4 as a live view image. Duringthat time, in the camera section 28, focus adjustment is performed bythe AF function.

In the following descriptions, an operation of the handy terminal isdescribed which is performed after the display of a live view image isstarted. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the main portion of processing that isperformed by the CPU 21 following the program stored in the main storagesection 23 in response to an operation of selecting the simultaneousread mode.

As shown in FIG. 7, after the display of a live view image is started,the CPU 21 judges whether a trigger key (center trigger key 5 b or oneof the side trigger keys 5 c) has become in an ON state, that is,whether a trigger key has been pressed by the user (worker) (Step S1).

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of a live view image 201 that isdisplayed on the display 4 immediately before a trigger key is pressedby the user. This example shows the case in which a target having abarcode written or printed thereon is a slip. On the live view image201, a light trail T of laser light is displayed together with a slip301. That is, the user presses a trigger key with a photographingcomposition being adjusted such that the light trail T traverses abarcode 302 of the slip 301.

Then, when a trigger key is pressed to cause the trigger key to be in anON state (YES at Step S1), the CPU 21 causes the scanner section 27 tostart a barcode reading operation (Step S2). That is, the CPU 21 causesthe scanner section 27 to start laser light irradiation, barcodescanning, and an operation of acquiring code data based on receivedreflected light.

Then, when code data is acquired (YES at Step S3), the CPU 21 determinesan exposure time for capturing an image of the target based on theimmediately preceding captured image (Step S4), and starts imagingprocessing (Step S5). That is, the CPU 21 sends an imaging startinstruction to the camera section 28 together with information regardingthe determined exposure time to cause the camera section 28 to startdriving the image sensor 29 with a drive signal in accordance with theexposure time in the rolling shutter method.

After the image sensor 29 is started to be driven, the CPU 21 judgeswhether laser-light irradiation stop timing, that is, timing at whichthe light emission of the laser diode is stopped has come in the scannersection 27, based on the drive start timing of the image sensor 29 andthe exposure time (Step S6). Then, when the irradiation stop timingcomes (YES at Step S6), the CPU 21 causes the scanner section 27 to stopthe light emission of the laser diode at this moment, that is, stops thelaser light irradiation in the scanner section 27 (Step S7).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 judges whether laser-light irradiation restarttiming, that is, timing at which the scanner section 27 is controlled torestart the light emission of the laser diode has come in the scannersection 27 (Step S8). Then, when the irradiation restart timing comes(YES at Step S8), the CPU 21 causes the scanner section 27 to restartthe light emission of the laser light at this moment, that is, restartsthe laser light irradiation in the scanner section 27 (Step S9).

Here, details of the irradiation stop timing and the irradiation restarttiming are described. FIG. 8 is a timing chart of operations in thesimultaneous read mode. Specifically, FIG. 8 is a timing chart showingimaging start instruction timing TS, exposure start timing and chargeread (transfer start) start timing for each of lines from a head line L1to a last line Ln, and OFF timing and ON timing of laser light, that is,the above-described irradiation stop timing and irradiation restarttiming.

As described above, since the image sensor 29 is driven with the rollingshutter method, the exposure start timing and the charge read (transferstart) start timing have a constant time deviation for each line.

The timing indicated by “ta” in FIG. 8 is the above-describedirradiation stop timing. This irradiation stop timing ta is exposurestart timing for a line Lx−1 immediately previous to (immediately above)a specific line Lx corresponding to the crossing position N of the lighttrail T of the laser light L in the imaging range 100 shown in FIG. 4.Also, the timing indicated by “tb” in FIG. 8 is the above-describedirradiation restart timing. This irradiation restart timing tb isexposure end timing for a line Lx+1 immediately after (immediatelybelow) the specific line Lx.

That is, during the driving of the image sensor 29, the CPU 21temporarily stops the laser light irradiation in the scanner section 27for the exposure periods for three lines, that is, the specific line Lxand two lines Lx−1 and Lx+1 before and after the specific line Lx. Thiscan avoid reflections of the light trail T of the laser light in thecaptured image. Therefore, even if the live view image 201 with thelight trail T of the laser light as shown in FIG. 9A is being displayedon the display 4 when the trigger key is pressed, a captured image 401without the light trail T of the laser light can be acquired, as shownin FIG. 9B.

Then, when the imaging processing started at Step S5, that is, the imagecapturing of the target subject is completed (YES at Step S10), the CPU21 causes the sound emission section 31 to output a buzzer sound toinform the user of the completion of the image capturing (Step S11).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 judges whether the trigger key becomes in anOFF state, that is, the pressed state of the trigger key has beenreleased (Step S12). When the trigger key becomes in an OFF state (YESat Step S12), the CPU 12 causes the scanner section 27 to end the laserlight irradiation (Step S13).

Next, the CPU 21 causes the data acquired in the above-describedprocessing, that is, the acquired data formed of the code data read fromthe barcode 302 and the image data of the slip 301 to be displayed onthe display 4 (Step S14). Note that in regard to the display mode ofeach acquired data on the display 4, any display mode can be adopted aslong as the user can visually recognize the acquired data.

Then, for example, the CPU 21 causes the acquired data and aninstruction request message to be displayed on the display 4, andthereby prompts the user to determine whether to store the acquired databeing displayed (Step S15). When an instruction to store the acquireddata is given (YES at Step S15), the CPU 21 stores the acquired data inthe storage section 24 (Step S16), and ends the one processing in thesimultaneous read mode.

When an instruction not to store the acquired data is given (NO at StepS15), the CPU 21 discards (deletes) the temporarily-stored acquired datafrom the RAM 22 (Step S17), and ends the one processing in thesimultaneous read mode.

Note that the CPU 21 returns to Step S1 until the operation mode ischanged by the user to a mode different from the simultaneous read modeor the power is turned OFF, and repeats the subsequent processing.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the user uses thesimultaneous read mode to read a barcode, a barcode reading operationand an imaging operation can be simultaneously performed by a triggerkey being operated only once. Furthermore, a captured image in afavorable state without reflections of the light trail of laser lightcan be acquired as a captured image. That is, a favorable captured imagecan be acquired with workability when articles and ledger documents aremanaged being maintained.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 21 temporarily stops the laser lightirradiation in the scanner section 27 for the exposure period for threelines, that is, the specific line Lx and two lines Lx−1 and Lx+1 beforeand after the specific line Lx, during the driving of the image sensor29. In a more specific example, when 480 lines are taken as one frameexposure period, laser light irradiation for 3/480 frame exposureperiod, which is an exposure period for three lines, is stopped.However, the above-described number of lines is merely an example forconvenience. At the time of implementation of the present invention, thenumber of lines is determined in accordance with a specific width of thelight trail T of the laser light.

Here, in the present embodiment, the exposure period for three lines istaken as a period in which the laser light irradiation in the scannersection 27 is temporarily stopped. However, the period in which laserlight irradiation is temporarily stopped is not limited thereto, and maybe an exposure period and a transfer period (charge read period) forthree lines. That is, the period may be from the irradiation stop timingta to transfer end timing tc for the line Lx+1 immediately after(immediately below) the specific line Lx shown in FIG. 8.

Also, in the present embodiment, the laser light irradiation in thescanner section 27 is temporarily stopped when the image sensor 29 isbeing driven during the image capturing. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and a configuration may be adopted in whichlaser light irradiation is temporarily stopped also during driving ofthe image sensor 29 before a trigger key is pressed, in a manner similarto that at the time of the image capturing.

Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which, when the imagesensor 29 is being driven during image capturing, laser lightirradiation in the scanner section 27 is temporarily stopped during theentire imaging operation period, that is, from the imaging startinstruction timing TS to transfer end timing td for the last line Ln inFIG. 8. In this case as well, a captured image without the light trailof a laser light such as that shown in FIG. 9B can be acquired.

In the configuration where laser light irradiation in the scannersection 27 is temporarily stopped during an entire imaging operationperiod, the image sensor 29 can be driven not by the above-describedrolling shutter method but by a global shutter method. Furthermore, thiscan be applied when a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used as the imagesensor 29.

In the present embodiment, the structure has been described forconvenience, in which the camera section 28 is controlled to perform animaging operation at timing at which a barcode reading operation in thescanner section 27 is completed. However, a structure may be adopted inwhich the barcode reading operation and the imaging operation areliterally concurrently performed by the scanner section 27 and thecamera section 28.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiments, it is intended that the invention be not limitedby any of the details of the description therein but includes all theembodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A barcode reading device comprising: a camerawhich captures a target positioned within a viewing angle of the cameraand thereby acquires an image of the target; a scanner which is providednear the camera and which scans a barcode provided as a portion of thetarget with a light beam irradiated toward within the viewing angle ofthe camera, an irradiation width of the light beam being narrower than awidth of the viewing angle, and thereby reads information from thebarcode; a display which displays images captured of the target acquiredby the camera; and a processor which performs processing operationsincluding: an imaging control processing operation for controlling thecamera to perform an imaging operation for acquiring an image forrecording, using a rolling shutter method in which an exposure area issequentially switched, a reading control processing operation for, whilethe camera is performing the imaging operation, controlling the scannerto perform a reading operation for reading information from the barcode,and an irradiation control processing operation for, when an exposurearea corresponding to an area scanned with the light beam is exposed inthe imaging operation, temporarily stopping the light beam irradiationby the scanner.
 2. The barcode reading device according to claim 1,wherein the irradiation control processing operation restarts the lightbeam irradiation by the scanner when an exposure area being exposed bythe imaging operation is switched from the exposure area correspondingto the area scanned with the light beam to another exposure area.
 3. Thebarcode reading device according to claim 1, wherein the processingoperations further include: a display control processing operation forcontrolling the display to perform a display operation in which, eachtime the camera acquires a new image by the imaging operation, an imageto be displayed on the display is switched to the new image.
 4. Abarcode reading method executed by a barcode reading device including acamera which captures a target positioned within a viewing angle of thecamera and thereby acquires an image of the target, a scanner which isprovided near the camera and which scans a barcode provided as a portionof the target with a light beam irradiated toward within the viewingangle of the camera, an irradiation width of the light beam beingnarrower than a width of the viewing angle, and thereby readsinformation from the barcode, and a display which displays images of thetarget acquired by the camera, the method comprising: an imaging controlprocess of controlling the camera to perform an imaging operation foracquiring an image for recording, using a rolling shutter method inwhich an exposure area is sequentially switched; a reading controlprocess of, while the camera is performing the imaging operation,controlling the scanner to perform a reading operation for readinginformation from the barcode; and an irradiation control process of,when an exposure area corresponding to an area scanned with the lightbeam is exposed in the imaging operation, temporarily stopping the lightbeam irradiation by the scanner.
 5. The imaging barcode reading methodaccording to claim 4, process restarts the light beam irradiation by thescanner when an exposure area being exposed by the imaging operation isswitched from the exposure area corresponding to the area scanned withthe light beam to another exposure area.
 6. The barcode reading methodaccording to claim 4, further comprising: a display control process ofcontrolling the display to perform a display operation in which, eachtime the camera acquires a new image by the imaging operation, an imageto be displayed on the display is switched to the new image.
 7. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon aprogram that is executable by a computer of a barcode reading deviceincluding a camera which captures a target positioned within a viewingangle of the camera and thereby acquires an image of the target, ascanner which is provided near the camera and which scans a barcodeprovided as a portion of the target with a light beam irradiated towardwithin the viewing angle of the camera, an irradiation width of thelight beam being narrower than a width of the viewing angle, and therebyreads information from the barcode, and a display which displays imagesof the target acquired by the camera, the program being executable bythe computer to perform processing operations including: an imagingcontrol processing operation for controlling the camera to perform animaging operation for acquiring an image for recording, using a rollingshutter method in which an exposure area is sequentially switched, areading control processing operation for, while the camera is performingthe imaging operation, controlling the scanner to perform a readingoperation for reading information from the barcode, and an irradiationcontrol processing operation for, when an exposure area corresponding toan area scanned with the light beam is exposed in the imaging operation,temporarily stopping the light beam irradiation by the scanner.
 8. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein theirradiation control processing operation restarts the light beamirradiation by the scanner when an exposure area being exposed by theimaging operation is switched from the exposure area corresponding tothe area scanned with the light beam to another exposure area.
 9. Thecomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein theprocessing operations further include: a display control processingoperation for controlling the display to perform a display operation inwhich, each time the camera acquires a new image by the imagingoperation, an image to be displayed on the display is switched to thenew image.